After Zelenskyy-Trump row, British PM says allies must increase 'share of the burden' to help Ukraine
'Every nation must contribute to that in the best way that it can,' Starmer says
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer rallied his European and NATO counterparts Sunday to shore up their borders and throw their full weight behind Ukraine as he announced outlines of a plan to end Russia's war.
"Every nation must contribute to that in the best way that it can, bringing different capabilities and support to the table, but all taking responsibility to act, all stepping up their own share of the burden," he said.
Starmer's exhortation to 18 fellow leaders, including Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, that they need to do the heavy lifting for their own security comes two days after U.S. backing of Ukraine appeared in jeopardy when President Donald Trump lashed out at Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and said he wasn't grateful enough for America's support.
The meeting had been overshadowed by the extraordinary scolding that took place on live television at the White House. Starmer used the opportunity as part of his broader effort to bridge the gap between Europe and the U.S. and also salvage what had seemed like the start of a peace process before Friday's spat.
Starmer said he had worked with France and Ukraine on a plan to end the war and that the group of leaders — mostly from Europe — had agreed on four things.
The steps toward peace would keep aid flowing to Kyiv and maintain economic pressure on Russia to strengthen Ukraine's hand; make sure Ukraine is at the bargaining table and any peace deal must ensure its sovereignty and security; and continue to arm Ukraine to deter future invasion.
Finally, Starmer said they would develop a "coalition of the willing" to defend Ukraine and guarantee the peace.
"Not every nation will feel able to contribute but that can't mean that we sit back," he said. "Instead, those willing will intensify planning now with real urgency. The U.K. is prepared to back this with boots on the ground and planes in the air, together with others."
He said any plan would require strong U.S. backing. He did not specify what that meant, though he told the BBC before the summit that there were "intense discussions" to get a security guarantee from the U.S.
"If there is to be a deal, if there is to be a stopping of the fighting, then that agreement has to be defended, because the worst of all outcomes is that there is a temporary pause and then [Russian President Vladimir] Putin comes again," Starmer said.
Starmer said he will later bring a more formal plan to the U.S. and work with Trump.
Washington still reliable ally, Starmer says
Europe has been anxious since Trump initiated direct peace talks with Putin, who had been isolated by most Western leaders since invading Ukraine three years ago. The scramble to remain relevant and protect European interests as their once stalwart ally appeared to be cozying up to Putin was even more troubling when Trump called Zelenskyy a dictator and falsely said Ukraine started the war.
Meetings last week had provided some hope — until Zelenskyy's trip to the White House on Friday.
Visits to the Oval Office by Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron, who had declared his visit a "turning point," were seen as steps in the right direction. The meetings were cordial and Trump even took a gentler tone toward Ukraine, though he would not commit to providing U.S. security guarantees and maintained that Europe would need to provide peacekeeping troops.
Within 12 hours of Starmer's return from Washington, the talk of peace seemed to collapse as Trump and Vice-President JD Vance berated Zelenskyy for challenging Trump's assertions that Putin could be trusted.
During his Sunday press conference, Starmer rejected the suggestion that the U.S. was no longer a reliable ally.
"There are no two countries as closely aligned as our two countries and our defence, our security and intelligence is intertwined in a way no two other countries are, so it's an important and reliable ally for us," he said.
'Once in a generation moment'
Starmer hosted the meeting at Lancaster House, a 200-year-old mansion near Buckingham Palace, following his charm offensive with Macron to persuade Trump to put Ukraine at the centre of negotiations and tilt his allegiances toward Europe.
Leaders from Germany, Denmark, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Spain, Canada, Finland, Sweden, the Czech Republic and Romania were at the summit. The Turkish foreign minister, the NATO secretary-general and the presidents of the European Commission and European Council were also in attendance.
Among those in a crowd of people who gathered near Starmer's office at 10 Downing Street to show support for Ukraine on Sunday was 37-year-old Yulia Vozniuk, who moved to the U.K. from Ukraine 14 years ago.
She talked to her parents, still living in Cherkasy, Ukraine, after Friday's tense confrontation between Trump and Zelenskyy and said her mother was crying.
"It was scary, to be honest," she told CBC News, adding that Zelenskyy's team probably could have better prepared him to handle the expected "provocations" from Trump.
Starmer used sweeping terms to describe the challenge ahead, saying Europe was at a crossroads in its history and needed to step up to meet "once in a generation moment."
European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen emerged from the meeting and said she would present a plan to "rearm Europe" to bolster the bloc's security after a long period of underinvestment.
As for the future of war-torn Ukraine, von der Leyen said it needs security guarantees.
"We have to put Ukraine in a position of strength so that it has the means to fortify itself and to protect itself," von der Leyen said. "It's basically turning Ukraine into a steel porcupine that is indigestible for potential invaders."
Last week, Starmer pledged to boost military spending to 2.5 per cent of gross domestic product by 2027. Other European nations may follow suit.
Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala said Saturday that Europe faces a historic test and has to look after itself. He said European countries have to increase their arms spending to reach at least 3 per cent of GDP.
"If we don't increase our effort fast enough and let the aggressor dictate its conditions, we won't end up well," he said.
Starmer pledged to supply more arms to defend Ukraine, announcing that the U.K. will use 1.6 billion pounds ($2.9 billion Cdn) in export financing to supply 5,000 air defence missiles.
With files from CBC's Briar Stewart
